Side-impact collisions, often called “T-bone” accidents, are among the most frightening types of crashes on Seattle roads. One moment you’re driving through an intersection, and the next, another vehicle slams directly into the side of your vehicle. There’s little protection between you and the impact, and injuries are often severe.
If you were involved in a side-impact car accident in Seattle, you may already be dealing with pain, vehicle damage, missed work, and stress from insurance companies. You might also be asking a critical question: Who caused this, and how do I prove it?
Fault matters. Insurance companies look closely at who was responsible before they agree to pay. If they can shift blame to you, they often will. Our experienced Seattle car accident attorney explains that understanding how to establish fault after a side-impact collision can help prevent you from being unfairly blamed.
Side Impact Collisions in Seattle Can Cause Severe Injuries
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) advises that side-impact collisions are among the most common types of crashes. They are also among the most potentially deadly, accounting for nearly 25 percent of all traffic fatalities each year.
Side-impact car accidents in Seattle, or T-bone crashes, often happen at intersections. The severity of these collisions depends on how fast the drivers were traveling and whether they applied the brakes before impact.
Obviously, victims on the side of the car that was struck stand the greatest chance of suffering life-threatening harm. However, these crashes can cause severe injuries to anyone in the vehicle. These include:
- Multiple broken bones and complex fractures, which may require surgery to repair;
- Severe cuts and lacerations due to broken glass and twisted metal;
- Crushing injuries, causing loss of limbs and damage to internal organs;
- Back, neck, or spinal cord injuries, impacting mobility and causing chronic pain; and
- Head trauma and potentially life-changing brain injuries.
If you are involved in a side-impact car accident in Seattle, notify the police immediately. Request emergency medical services, document the scene with photos (when possible), and get legal help before making statements or speaking to insurers.
Seattle Side-Impact Collision: Who’s At Fault
In the aftermath of this type of crash, people often search for “side-impact collision who’s at fault.” While the answer may seem relatively straightforward, the complex nature of car accidents in Seattle that happen at intersections can make these cases more complicated.
Perhaps you were hit by another driver while making a “right on red”, or you hit them as they were running a red light. Under Section 46.61 of the Washington Revised Code, drivers must maintain control of their vehicles at all times. Insurers often try to use this law to claim that you were at least partly to blame. This gives them justification to deny or downplay your claim.
Gathering evidence and doing so in the immediate aftermath of a crash helps support your side of the story and protects your rights to compensation. The more objective proof you have, the harder it becomes for the other driver’s insurer to twist the story.
Several types of evidence can help establish what really happened in a side impact collision:
- Police reports documenting the officer’s observations and any traffic violations;
- Photos of vehicle damage and showing the point of impact;
- Maps showing the intersection layout, traffic signals, and lane markings;
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage; and
- Witness statements from people who saw the crash.
Skid marks, debris patterns, and vehicle positioning are other types of evidence that can prevent insurers from unfairly blaming you later.
How Insurance Companies Try to Shift Blame For Side-Impact Collisions
If you were struck by another vehicle and injured in a Seattle side-impact car accident, it’s natural to assume the other driver is responsible. Unfortunately, that’s not always how insurance companies approach it.
The Insurance Information Institute reports that auto insurers take in billions each year. Unfortunately, rather than trying to make their customers whole, insurance claims adjusters are more interested in protecting company profits. In fact, their jobs depend on it.
Common tactics insurers use in side-impact collisions to dispute who’s at fault include:
- Claiming you “should have seen” the other driver
- Arguing you were speeding without proof
- Suggesting you entered the intersection too early
- Misinterpreting your recorded statements
- Using vague police reports to argue shared fault
It is important to be aware that Washington follows a comparative fault system. That means if an insurer can prove you were partially at fault, they can reduce compensation. Even a small shift in blame can significantly affect what you receive.
Get Legal Help To Protect Your Rights After a Seattle Side Impact Collision
Side-impact car accidents in Seattle can cause devastating harm. You shouldn’t have to argue with insurance companies while you’re trying to recover.
Having an experienced Seattle car accident attorney on your side helps. While you focus on the healing process, we investigate, gather evidence, and push back when insurers try to shift blame. Steps our office can take to protect your rights throughout the claims process:
- Obtain traffic camera or business surveillance footage, showing how the crash occurred.
- Interview witnesses before memories fade.
- Consult experts to review vehicle damage patterns and support your version of events.
- Analyze police reports for errors or missing details.
- Handling all communication with insurers.
If you’re searching “side-impact collision who’s at fault”, it’s often because you’re getting blamed for something you didn’t cause. Get someone on your side who knows how to challenge that narrative.
Request a Consultation Today With Our Experienced Seattle Car Accident Attorney
Injured in a side-impact car accident in Seattle? Don’t assume the insurance company will automatically settle your claim. These are some of the most disputed cases. To protect your rights, contact Washington Injury Law.
We help people injured in intersection crashes throughout King County, including Downtown (98101), Capitol Hill (98102), and Magnolia/QA (98119, 98199). Our Seattle car accident attorney deals with insurers on your behalf, helping you get the maximum compensation. Reach out and request a consultation today.